The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1887-09-22
THE STATE OF WILKES
The SentfnePs Traveller Looks in the
Good People of Our Neig hbor County
and Tells Whax he Sees. Court
Week. EsaIlrnad Racket Etc.


| Week. Railroad Racket Etc.
Your correspondent left Winston fol
Wilkesboro, the capital of the Estate O
Wilkes on Saturday, the 18th inst, reach.
ing his destination on Sunday about p. M
| We travelled through fine country, full OF
natural scenery unsurpassed in the United
States, and part of the country as prod ictive
as heart could wish. Found Wilkesboro a
small, old town, nestled in the mountaip,
with every natural advantage OF scenery and
| location, being surrounded by some of the
IN, st fertile and productive counties in the
State. and only waLting the whistle of the
locomotive to av AIKEN her from her rip
Van Wrinkle" sleep.
On eht opposite side of the river from
! Wilkesboro, where they speak of locating
the depot, Is one of the finest town sites in
North Carolina, and the owners, Messrs
Blair and Finley, say if they should locate
the depot on that side of the river that it
will be cheap lots with them, as their only
wish and intention will be to build up the
town and cause business and capital to CEN
ter there, by making lots cheap.
Our cnterprising townsman, Mr.. d. z.
Smoak, has already been up there and with
his well known push and energy has pur-
chased the Ike Wellborn property, thereby
securing control OF some 2, 800 acres of the
most desirable and valuable land in Wilkes
and Arhe counties, together with a hand
some residence In the town OF Wilkesboro
Indeed, Mr.: Smoak has bonanzee In his
property-Railroad, or no Railroad
Court convened on Monday morning, pre-
sided over by the next Governor of North
Carolina-His Honor. Judge Gilmer-and
let me say right here, that a truer. Citizen,
Patriot and Gentleman, never lived. The
Solicitor, Mr.. Settle, is winning praise from
every one. The Winston bar was repre-
scented by r. B. Glenn, Esq, and we only
heard one opinion expressed by all. and
that was that Bob Glenn was lawyer and
gentleman, every inch of him. We were
pleased to see that he has fine practice in
this county. The State docket was very
heavy this court, there being 2S cases of +.
and 4. alone, and 400 witnesses summonsed.
A more hospitable people than those of
Wilkes, 1t has never been our pleasure to
meet; they are noble, hospitable and brave,
and the latch string is always on the out
side for any person, and the house contains
nothing too good for you. We were shown
some apples. raised by Mr.. Harris, who
lives on Brushy Mountain, that weighed 81
ounces.
The people are all on the ''qui vive" about
the Winston and Wilkesboro Railroad.
The question asked lis by all was, when
will the Railroad be built; are they work
ing on your end ?" They are all looking to
Winston for their market, and if our mer-
chants will only display their usual energy
and push they will soon get this trade that
has been enriching Statesville and Charlotte.
Wllkesboro has one newspaper, the Chron-
iete, which has just been moved there
from Lenoir; it is Democratic. The Re-
publicans will have paper started there
by October 18th 1t is to be owned and run
by two young men from West Va. We
heard only good wishes for THE SENTINEL,
every one wished it well-as one of the
most influential men there told me: "THE
SENTINEL cannot attain any prosperity
that [ do not with for it." We succeeded
in getting abont 100 of the best citizens of
Wilkes to subscribe for the cold stand by"
Ii the Winston and Wilkesboro road is
built, 1t will open up one ofthe finest and
most productive parts in North Carolina,
and where there is only now small, sleepy
old town, will be one of the finest cities in
the Old North State. Gods speed to the
Railroad, and may Winston and Wilkesboro
soon be connected by rail. L.. W.M.